Feel free to piece together the clues.

Much like a character from a Poe story, Davante Adams is stirring the pot regarding his potential trade.

On Friday, Adams shared a mysterious Instagram post that fueled speculation about his desire to leave the Las Vegas Raiders for the Baltimore Ravens, humorously dubbed the Dead Poet’s Team.

Recently, Adams reportedly requested a trade and shared a photo of Edgar Allan Poe, famous for his work “The Raven,” which is also linked to the NFL team based in the city where Poe is laid to rest.

He then followed this with a post quoting Poe: “Believe nothing you hear and half of what you see.”

It’s clear that the Raiders have a pivotal decision to make regarding Adams’ future. If they haven’t done so already, they should allow Adams’ agents, Frank Bauer and Kenny Chapman, to negotiate a trade that could resolve this situation.

However, executing a deal is not straightforward. Adams is a valuable asset for a number of teams on his rumored list, which includes Baltimore, Buffalo, the New York Jets, Dallas, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans. Yet, working within salary cap constraints, particularly with his substantial contract, could complicate negotiations. After transferring from Green Bay in 2022, Adams signed a five-year contract worth $140 million. Currently, he is owed around $13.5 million in base salary for this season, which decreases by almost $1 million for each week he stays with his current team.

Meanwhile, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce may want to invoke a saying attributed to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin: “We need volunteers, not hostages.”

The Raiders also require strong draft picks that could help them move up in next year’s draft to select a top quarterback. It’s worth noting that vague social media hints won’t enhance the trade value that Raiders GM Tom Telesco can expect for a 31-year-old receiver. However, with a month to go before the trade deadline, the timing and circumstance could affect pricing if the salary cap allows it.

Adams missed last week’s hard-fought victory against Cleveland due to a hamstring injury, sat out practice all week, and won’t be playing in Sunday’s game against Denver.

“He’s supposed to be in rehab,” Pierce shared, leaving much to speculation.

On the flip side, Adams’ ambiguous messages create intrigue. Saints quarterback Derek Carr, a close friend and former college teammate, provided a more straightforward comment about the situation.

“I think all 32 quarterbacks would love to play with Davante,” Carr stated to reporters in New Orleans. “We would welcome that.”

Another former quarterback of Adams, Aaron Rodgers, also weighed in.

“I don’t know how much I can say without crossing tampering rules, but I still share a close friendship with him,” Rodgers commented from London, where his Jets are preparing to face the Vikings.

Rodgers then offered an ambiguous thought of his own, possibly without Poe’s influence.

“The grass is greener where you water it,” Rodgers advised. “There’s a common saying that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. But it truly thrives where you nurture it. When you invest time and intention, you can create something special, regardless of where you are.”

Now, see if you can connect those dots.

Lamar Jackson speaks out on betting, fantasy, and the reality of the game

I really appreciated Lamar Jackson pushing back against the detractors (whether they are gamblers or fans) who express their frustration on social media when Ravens players, including him, don’t meet specific targets that would benefit their betting or fantasy football interests.

While he’s certainly not the first player to voice this sentiment, it’s a welcome reminder during this era where the NFL and other sports leagues are increasingly tied to the gambling and fantasy sports sectors.

In one of Jackson’s posts on X (formerly Twitter) this week, he succinctly stated: “Yall stop commenting on our socials about the yards yall fan duels (sic) or parlays aint hit.”

Later in a press meeting at Ravens HQ, Jackson elaborated on this topic.

“We’re not betting on the game,” he emphasized. “We can’t even place bets on games. So, that’s not on our minds. We’re focused on winning, not stats.”

While there have been a few gambling scandals in Major League Baseball and the NBA, it’s worth mentioning that it has been over a year since any NFL player faced discipline for breaching the league’s gambling rules.

Did you catch that? Kyle Pitts shines

You might think that if Kirk Cousins surpasses the 500-yard mark in a game, Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts would receive plenty of targets. And he did.

However, just days after Pitts played his first NFL game without a reception, the Falcons seemed determined to incorporate him into the game early on. Cousins’ first throw of the game was a fantastic 32-yard completion down the right seam. And that set the tone.

The takeaway?

“He trusts me,” Pitts reflected after the game.

In a high-scoring battle against the Buccaneers, Pitts was targeted eight times, securing seven catches for 88 yards. This reception total was close to what he achieved in his first four games combined (eight), while the yardage was his best performance since his rookie year.

In 2021, he had three games where he rushed for over 100 yards.

Pitts, who made history by being the highest-drafted tight end ever when he was picked fourth overall, has shown that he isn’t fazed by the negative comments on social media, which labeled him a draft failure after a game without any receptions.

“I pay little attention to what’s said on social media,” Pitts mentioned to YSL News, while fully attired in the locker room. “Those commentators hide behind their screens and keep tweeting. But they wouldn’t be able to perform on the field themselves. For me, it’s all about contributing to this offense and letting the ball come to me.”

Quick Highlights

— The NFL Players Association is advocating for a ban on media presence in locker rooms during the week, although they still permit it on game days, citing privacy issues. The union encourages its members to do interviews outside these spaces. It’s important to note that this alternative has been available for many years, and as highlighted by the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) in a recent statement, it is part of the media guidelines. The effectiveness of this policy, and the NFL’s compliance, remains to be seen. It’s understandable that players feel uneasy while in various states of undress. This was recently exemplified when a radio reporter (who isn’t a PFWA member) shared an interview from the locker room that inadvertently included a view of another player’s rear end. Ultimately, professionalism must be the guiding principle for both the media covering the league and players meeting their media responsibilities. Currently, players typically wait until they are fully dressed before giving interviews at their lockers.

— Geno Smith, who topped the NFL with 1,182 passing yards after Week 4, also set a Seahawks record by attempting 56 passes on Monday night against Detroit. He’s on track for a remarkable 5,024-yard season. Achieving 5,000 yards is a rare feat, especially considering that out of the 15 occasions a quarterback has reached 5,000 yards (starting with Dan Marino in 1984), only three of those have occurred since the league introduced a 17-game season in 2021. However, if Smith maintains this impressive pace, the milestone could very much be within reach. After spending six years as a backup in the NFL, he stepped in as Seattle’s starter in 2022, succeeding Russell Wilson. As it stands, he currently boasts an impressive 72.3% completion rate and leads the league with 115 completions and 159 attempts after Week 4.